By Sherry Harriman,
Maine State Grange President/Master
207 490-1029
Highlights of State Session
Here we are in April. Do you realize the State Grange Session is only six months away, Friday, October 17, and Saturday, October 18? Black Bear Inn, 4 Godfrey Drive, Orono. You are responsible for your own room reservations (207-866-7120) use code Maine State Grange Group for special rate. I do not have meal prices yet but more information will be coming when it becomes available.
Here is an early preview. Friday, we will open in the 6th Degree at 11:00 a.m. (yes eleven), lower to the Fourth Degree; introduce National Rep. Kathy Gibson, Lady Assistant Steward of the National Grange; cover general business and State Master’s Annual Address. At noon, a paid lunch will be available downstairs. 1:30 p.m. is the Memorial Service; followed by Nat Rep; 3:00 p.m. begin resolutions. We close at 5 p.m. 6 p.m. The Banquet Buffet downstairs, tickets are purchased in advance. This year’s theme “Home Grown Roots For Bountiful Harvest.”Awards upstairs after banquet.
On Saturday at 8:30 a.m. we open in the Fourth Degree. 9:00 a.m. is acceptance of budget; full elections of officers, resolutions and reports mixed in with elections. Noon-paid lunch is available downstairs. 1:30 call back to order. 1:45 Conferral of the Sixth Degree and Installation of Officers, business continues as needed.
Current information and details are available on the 2025 151st Convention Page,
Utilities at Grange Halls
Recently I was trying to pay a power bill for a closed Grange and to change another power bill over to MSG for a recently closed Grange to continue with payments. It was quite a challenge to accomplish both. Neither my name nor Maine State Grange was on the service, so the employees could not help me at all (which is not their fault). It was very frustrating on my part, even though I had the account numbers. One account had been set up on line as autopay by a person who is uncooperative and no longer a member, the bank account was closed but the bill kept adding up. The other was a standard set up many years ago, the bills kept up to date, by a member who was recently deceased. One utility asked to have the former person let them know the name and billing address for the new contact, then the new contact had to call in to say they would accept the new bills, but it was still a problem to get it resolved even after I did all that was asked. I mention this to you so you won’t run into a problem with your utilities at some point in the future. Whose name and address is associated with your Grange utility accounts or is it just the name of the Grange on the bills, maybe sent to the Secretary? Should a second contact be added or at least confirm who is on your Grange utility accounts, who can get information and also make changes, or even turn the utility off if needed?
Promoting Your Grange
As we are all involved in promoting Grange membership and growth, we should be advertising ourselves. The name and number of a Grange should be on the building or on the sign at the road AND should include the day and time of the meetings. This way someone passing by or visiting the area will know when you meet.
A display in a front window or a bulletin board on the Grange hall would help us promote ourselves more. We talk about a display in a public area only during Grange Month, but this display would be ongoing year-round. You could list programs and other information in your display. Include activities or projects your Grange is involved with as part of your Grange work, and include contest information for the different committees of the Grange. (Four 2” boards, an old aluminum storm window, a couple of hinges, and a hasp make a very nice outside bulletin board, using plywood or paneling for backing if you wish). It may just spark some interest in someone who wishes to help do something for the Grange, or someone may want to join.
You could also put a board in the hallway, entryway, or on the back of the entry door where the public comes in to wait for suppers, bingo, etc. Once seated, they don’t have the opportunity to look around or read something they see hanging on a wall unless it is close or big, but while waiting in line, they might be nosy enough to be checking things out beside them on a wall close by. Use BIG print, keep it neat and attractive, give some details, add some color, and promote all the different activities, benefits, and programs we are involved with in the Grange. (See the various National and State program books for information.) If you don’t have these books handy, contact someone who can get them for you and use them. Change things around occasionally or add something new so it doesn’t get boring or outdated. The Grange has a lot of great things to offer. Have brochures or sheets of information within easy reach for someone who wishes to pick one up and take it along (most people are more comfortable checking out information in private), or they can read it there while waiting.
Another reason for your display is to remind current members what is happening. You may be surprised by what is available. A lot of halls have a nice bulletin board in the meeting room; be sure to utilize this for your members and visitors who attend. They may have been out when a certain communication came in and did not know about something; it doesn’t have to be the letter itself, but a name and date of event or activity. If they want to know more about it, they can ask. It is surprising how many people do not know or have overlooked something they could have taken part in. We can’t promote membership growth if we don’t promote Grange in Grange.
Helpful Hints From Hallmark® either for display board or standard size paper.
Less is More * A little clip art is snazzy—too much makes a mess. * One or two lettering styles complement the mood of your project—too many different fonts look confusing. * Pack your punch into fewer words and short sentences.
Follow the “Rules of Threes” *Arrange graphic elements in groups of three for the best visual balance. * For example, three photos printed on one page are more interesting than two or four. Oddly enough, the human eye prefers odd-numbered images. * Feature only three ideas in your message. The human mind easily grasps concepts in sets of three.
Think “Z” *the eye travels in a Z-pattern from the top to the bottom of the page. *Put the most important stuff at the top to grab your reader’s attention. *Build the reader’s interest through the middle, then drive your point home with a dominant element at the bottom of the page.
Finishing Touches *Enclose a photo or some colorful, shaped confetti. Seal special invitations with old-fashioned sealing wax. *Decorate a special scrapbook page with leftover sheets. *Creating a poem, award, or certificate? Present it with a flourish: Roll it up scroll-style. Tie it with a satin ribbon, gold cord, or strand of raffia. Be creative.
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